Atletico Madrid reignited their Champions League campaign when Arda Turan struck 15 minutes from time to give last season’s beaten finalists a 1-0 win at home to Juventus in Group A. A late strike also saved Real Madrid from an embarrassing tie as they overcame minnows Ludogorets.
Beaten 3-2 at Olympiakos Piraeus in their opening game two weeks ago, Atletico hassled and harried the Italian champions at the Calderon and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Turkey midfielder Arda poked the ball into the net from close range.
Neither side created many chances in an intense encounter in the Spanish capital and the victory puts Atletico firmly back on track to qualify from a group that also includes Malmo.
The Swedish side won 2-0 at home to Olympiakos to leave all four teams on three points from two matches.
The Atletico fans unveiled a banner reading «Feared in Europe» shortly before kickoff and the home players went after Juventus from the start, deploying the high-intensity pressing game that served them so well last season.
Mario Mandzukic had Atletico’s best chance of a tight first half when Juventus surrendered possession close to their penalty area in the 25th minute and the Croatia forward smashed a low shot towards goal that goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon palmed away.
At the other end, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba found space eight minutes later but his curling effort drifted wide.
Juventus came close to a late equaliser when Atletico captain Raul Garcia almost turned a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross into his own net.
Karim Benzema, meanwhile, came off the bench to score 13 minutes from time and give holders Real Madrid a patchy 2-1 win at resilient Ludogorets in their Group B match at the Vasil Levski stadium.
Lively Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho fired Ludogorets, making their home debut in the group stage, ahead after eight minutes when he headed home from close range aftet Sergio Ramos failed to clear Fabio Espinho’s corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a 10th-minute penalty saved by Vladislav Stoyanov but he made no mistake when handed another chance to score from the spot 15 minutes later, netting his 69th Champions League goal.
Real moved on to six points from two games when Benzema finished off a precise left-wing cross by Marcelo.
Source: Buenos AIres Herald